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Towed our 1500kg behind a TDCi Mondeo nicely, odd "wooly" feel from time to time from passing trucks etc; but generally a nice tow.

Feels better behind a 1750kg Galaxy though.

Nowt' wrong with your outfit, but have to be on the ball with tyre pressures, noseweight, loading etc. Maybe get a roof box & pack soft stuff like clothes, sleeping bags etc in that. Also things like wheel clamp, hook-up cable in the boot. Try to keep the van loaded lightly & as low as possible but still 75kg noseweight. 

According to both the handbook & the V5, a Zafira 150 CDTi weighs 1630kg so the match is not as bad as some people are saying, (I make it about 90% not about 95%).  To me (and the clubs) that is an acceptable match for someone with 25 years towing experience.

I found our Pegasus 524 a bit light when I travelled down to Bognor earlier in the month.  Everything was as normal, the only difference was that there was only two of us in the car rather than three of us, an awning and 3 bikes on the roof which is the most normal situation.  This is behind a 1825kg Peugeot 4007.

All I did was move the axle lock and the mains lead from the locker under the bed to one of the front mini lockers and it was rock steady again. So moving little things around can make all the difference.

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All I did was move the axle lock and the mains lead from the locker under the bed to one of the front mini lockers and it was rock steady again. So moving little things around can make all the difference.

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Quote: Originally posted by Zafiral on 19/7/2010

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According to both the handbook & the V5, a Zafira 150 CDTi weighs 1630kg so the match is not as bad as some people are saying, (I make it about 90% not about 95%).  To me (and the clubs) that is an acceptable match for someone with 25 years towing experience.

I found our Pegasus 524 a bit light when I travelled down to Bognor earlier in the month.  Everything was as normal, the only difference was that there was only two of us in the car rather than three of us, an awning and 3 bikes on the roof which is the most normal situation.  This is behind a 1825kg Peugeot 4007.

All I did was move the axle lock and the mains lead from the locker under the bed to one of the front mini lockers and it was rock steady again. So moving little things around can make all the difference.

 

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Quote: Originally posted by neil and lena on 19/7/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by Zafiral on 19/7/2010

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According to both the handbook & the V5, a Zafira 150 CDTi weighs 1630kg so the match is not as bad as some people are saying, (I make it about 90% not about 95%).  To me (and the clubs) that is an acceptable match for someone with 25 years towing experience.

I found our Pegasus 524 a bit light when I travelled down to Bognor earlier in the month.  Everything was as normal, the only difference was that there was only two of us in the car rather than three of us, an awning and 3 bikes on the roof which is the most normal situation.  This is behind a 1825kg Peugeot 4007.

All I did was move the axle lock and the mains lead from the locker under the bed to one of the front mini lockers and it was rock steady again. So moving little things around can make all the difference.

 

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1569kg for the Design model accordind to the VX website perhaps higher specked models are heavier

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Vx in the brochure quotes weights without driver so they can make the the payload higher.  In these cases Practical Caravan always adds 75 kg to the weight to match EC guidelines.

Quote: Originally posted by neil and lena on 19/7/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by Zafiral on 19/7/2010

According to both the handbook & the V5, a Zafira 150 CDTi weighs 1630kg so the match is not as bad as some people are saying, (I make it about 90% not about 95%).  To me (and the clubs) that is an acceptable match for someone with 25 years towing experience.

I found our Pegasus 524 a bit light when I travelled down to Bognor earlier in the month.  Everything was as normal, the only difference was that there was only two of us in the car rather than three of us, an awning and 3 bikes on the roof which is the most normal situation.  This is behind a 1825kg Peugeot 4007.

All I did was move the axle lock and the mains lead from the locker under the bed to one of the front mini lockers and it was rock steady again. So moving little things around can make all the difference.

 

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1569kg for the Design model according to the VX website perhaps higher specked models are heavier plus the 524 pegasus has an Ex works nosweight of more than 75kgs which is the limit on the Zafira , and if you move to much weight to the rear to achieve this 75kg limit you risk stability issues again which seems to be the OP's problem

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Quote: Originally posted by freeatlast on 19/7/2010

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All I did was move the axle lock and the mains lead from the locker under the bed to one of the front mini lockers and it was rock steady again. So moving little things around can make all the difference.

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This suggests that the caravan is still very close to its safe stability limit. You only know when the caravan is unstable when something happens whilst travelling. Some are lucky with a snake and get it under control without an accident, others are less lucky. Personally I want my unit to be well below that critical level.

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It still felt safe before the movement of stuff, just even more secure afterwards.

This is with a 81% match.  The lightness showed more in slight bouncyness, there was no side to side swaying.  I put this down to a lighter load over the rear axle rather than any caravan instability.

Quote: Originally posted by neil and lena on 19/7/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by neil and lena on 19/7/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by Zafiral on 19/7/2010

According to both the handbook & the V5, a Zafira 150 CDTi weighs 1630kg so the match is not as bad as some people are saying, (I make it about 90% not about 95%).  To me (and the clubs) that is an acceptable match for someone with 25 years towing experience.

I found our Pegasus 524 a bit light when I travelled down to Bognor earlier in the month.  Everything was as normal, the only difference was that there was only two of us in the car rather than three of us, an awning and 3 bikes on the roof which is the most normal situation.  This is behind a 1825kg Peugeot 4007.

All I did was move the axle lock and the mains lead from the locker under the bed to one of the front mini lockers and it was rock steady again. So moving little things around can make all the difference.

 

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1569kg for the Design model according to the VX website perhaps higher specked models are heavier plus the 524 pegasus has an Ex works nosweight of more than 75kgs which is the limit on the Zafira , and if you move to much weight to the rear to achieve this 75kg limit you risk stability issues again which seems to be the OP's problem

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Agreed, the biggest restriction on a Zafira's towability is the nose weight limit rather than the kerb weight.

However there are much worse cars available, eg Hyundai Santa Fe Auto tow weight 2000kg, yet only a 80kg noseweight limit.

NB I never towed a Pegasus with the Zafira, I had a very slightly heavier Pageant S7 at the time.

Quote: Originally posted by neil and lena on 19/7/2010

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The Zafira is a really poor match for the 534 Pegasus , after all it just an overgrown Vx astra but I doubt if the OP will take any notice . It amazes me the number of vanner's who buy unsuitable overly heavy caravans for there towcars instead of buying a lighter more compatible caravan
Then wonder why they have stability problems , the towing match service by the two major clubs would both have advised against this car / caravan combination because the Zafira's kerb weight , towing capacity and the noseweight limit .
Of course there will always be the one's on here with overly light towcar to caravan combinations who will proclaim there perfectly safe to which most of the time they are but in reality there can be more susceptible to stability issues whereas there is no substitution for a good weight advantage in a towcar

Post last edited on 19/07/2010 12:39:26

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Spot on!

Jim

85% is not in itself a problem, but there are so many other factors to consider, nose weight (a known problem with the Pegasus), rear axle loading, total gross weight of car and gross train weight, together with the age and mileage of car, and therefore wear on things like shock absorbers, springs and suspension bushes, it's not possible to generalise.

However, you seem to be experiencing problems that would indicate that there is something wrong with one or more of these areas.  As Neil and Lena said, there is no subsitute for a good heavy towcar. 

I tow trailers professionally, and sometimes have to get close to the limits.  When I don't have to, I don't do it.  My own outfit runs at 70%, with lots of spare nose weight and axle loadings.

It's very much more comfortable and obviously safer.  In your position, I would be looking for a heavier car. I'm sure you would not regret it.  Miles per gallon is a very small part of the selection process.

Jim